Why I Love Metal Roofing…And So Should You
By Shawn Zuver, editorial/content director
I love metal roofing. And I’m not talking about some casual admiration, mild adoration nor passing attraction. While other people set their sights on trees, people, other cars—or even paying attention to the road—while traveling, you’ll typically find me scanning the buildings. I admit that I’m drawn in by the exterior walls and my heart palpitates at a glimpse of exposed framing, but it’s the roof that’s most likely to captivate me.
Any standing seam, whether a thin architectural profile or double-locked structural system, is sure to gain my attention. Or maybe I’ll spot an interesting metal tile or shake, possibly with a stone coating, installed at a pitch so steep that it would be impossible to walk. Copper, in the midst of revealing its patina, is truly a thing of beauty. Is it my fault that there are so many profiles that turn my head?
My roof obsession is a bit odd, as I unashamedly admit, but I’ve found that I’m not alone. Stop by a Metal Construction Association meeting or drop in at shows like METALCON—anywhere that metal roofing suppliers congregate—and you’ll find dozens, if not hundreds more, who are just like me. It’s frightening to recall how many times a conversation at a trade show has started off with a review of the metal roofs that were discovered between the local airport and hotel.
If you’re not a metal roof lover, this column may give you some new ideas on why you should convert. If you’re already “one of us”, feel free to compare notes. The following, in reverse order, are the top 10 reasons that I love metal roofs.
10. Long Life. It’s widely accepted that virtually all of today’s steel and aluminum roofs will offer decades of service, with cases even documented in the 40-year range and beyond. And this isn’t so hard to understand when you consider that some metal roofs on historic buildings, including those with terne-coated steel and copper, have performed well for more than a century.
9. Recyclability. When a metal roof does eventually need to be replaced, it can be torn off and recycled. Thanks to the high recycling rates, it’s possible that the new metal roof you’re admiring today may have been a car or a washing machine, or something else made of metal, in its previous life.
8. Manufacturing Options. Many metal roofing profiles can be manufactured in a factory or on a jobsite. Each method has its advantages, depending on the needs of the contractor, designer and building owner. Simply choose what makes the best sense for the project.
7. Variety. Considering all the profile options, variety of materials and thicknesses, vast color palette and coating types, a mind-boggling number of metal roofing choices are available. I’ve done some quick calculations and determined that the actual number is more than 10 and less than 10 trillion. I’ll let you know when I narrow it down further.
6. Price Ranges. With such a wide variety of metal roof products, there is literally something for every price point. A basic panel with introductory-level paint can be found for less than $1 per sq. ft. (without labor), while a complex dome using a so-called “exotic” metal would, understandably, be considerably more than that. There are truly metal roof options for every budget.
5. Innovation. Continual innovations are being made to metal roofing with regard to profiles, coatings, installation practices, fasteners, insulation methods, water reclamation, solar energy and more—all devoted to making the products more beneficial to building owners, designers and contractors. Metal roof systems are cutting-edge technology.
4. Energy Friendly. Thanks to the excellent reflectivity and emissivity ratings that can be achieved with paint finishes, many metal roofs offer true cool roofing properties—even in darker colors. This is a key factor with today’s thirst for “green” building products and LEED certification points. Metal roofs are also popular settings for photovoltaic power-generation systems, including mounted set-ups and thin-film products.
3. Reroofing Capabilities. We all know the expenses and environmental concerns that arise when tearing off many old roofs like built-up, shingles and membranes. In most cases, a new metal roof can be installed over existing roofs without the need for costly tear-off. This also allows operations inside the building to continue without interruption.
2. Weatherability. When installed correctly, metal roofs do an excellent job of standing up to the elements, as verified by RICOWI field reports conducted after Hurricanes, Katrina, Charley and Ivan and the 2004 hailstorm in Oklahoma City. I’ve also seen incredible photos of homes with metal roofs that were untouched by wildfires that wiped out the surrounding neighborhoods.
1. Appearance. As I noted at the start of this column, all metal roofs—whether colorful corrugated galvanized panels, stone-coated metal tiles, bare Galvalume-coated steel standing seam, or hand-broken copper—can be head turners. It doesn’t matter what type of building you’re dealing with, there’s a metal roof that will fit your needs.
You’ll find many great examples of metal roofing, including hundreds of photos, in our Project Type Gallery, Design Solutions and Submitted Projects sections. There are also dozens of articles discussing benefits of metal roofing—from discussions of base metals to profiles to coatings to rooftop attachments—in our Advantages Of Metal and Technical Articles sections. Be sure to keep these resources in mind for the next time you’re looking for information.
And don’t forget to use other resources like those offered by the Metal Construction Association, Metal Roofing Alliance and other industry groups. You can find contact information for all of them in our Associations section.
Shawn Zuver is editorial/content director for DesignandBuildwithMetal.com. He has been covering the metal construction industry, including residential and non-residential construction, since 1985. To contact Shawn, call (419) 581-2051 or email shawnz@designandbuildwithmetal.com.
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